With all of my contacts that I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know through blogging, my chance meeting with Carmen Johnston last year at the Southern Living Ideahouse has positively changed my life and home in so many wonderful ways. Through Carmen, I’m now getting the opportunity to get my front yard completely landscaped with contributions by Southern Living Plant Collection. How in the world this happened, I have no idea, but it did, so I’m going with it!
Last weekend, Carmen’s elves showed up at my house to begin the first process of getting my yard landscaped. Carmen warned me that my yard would look like it exploded before it gets better and she was right, but I was prepared for that. You’ve got to have ugly sometimes in order to make things prettier.
When we first started talking about this project, she mentioned putting in an irrigation system and I knew that would be an important component because getting water to plants is so important, especially in that first year that they are getting established. I’ve never had an irrigation system at my house, so all of this is such a treat for me. I know my plants will survive now! If they depended on me having to water, I’d have my doubts.
They came in with a little Boxer machine that was rented for the afternoon, to dig the trenches. It looked like big critters had come through my yard, leaving devastation behind.
There’s the handy machine that made digging these trenches so much easier.
They had the utility lines identified and flagged so they knew just where to dig.
With a little work by hand too. They worked hard for a few hours getting all of this done for the day and it started sprinkling rain which didn’t help the process.
This large pipe will go in the ground on the backside of the cinderblock wall at the end of my driveway, to alleviate the standing water that accumulates in the backyard from rain runoff. This will take pressure off the wall and keep it from moving any further than it already has.
Water pipe ready to go in the ground.
Those 2 guys worked very hard getting it all done and it was fun to watch the process.
They dug a trench next to the road, up one side of the driveway and along the front side of the house. From there, lines will go out which will be drip lines that will water all the plants going in under my trees in the front yard.
Sort of 3 sided square with lines running off.
That machine sure came in handy!
The pipes went in next with wiring and all that goes with putting in an irrigation system.
After all the pipes went in and everything was connected, the machine went back over the trenches putting dirt back in the holes.
Looking at the pipes in place.
This line runs under the sidewalk in the front yard and over to the wall that goes in my garage. The box for the irrigation system is mounted on the wall just inside my garage and the water pipe going into my house was luckily in a great place.
That handy dandy Boxer machine.
They turned it on so I could see the stainless heads pop up and see how they worked.
They were all working great and with some adjustments should hit all the grass and flower beds that will be going in.
The main junction box with all the wiring in place is right in the front yard.
I’m so, so grateful to have this opportunity to work with Carmen and get my landscaping done. I can’t even believe this is happening!  I am paying for some of this, but at a much reduced cost and for that I’m so thankful to Carmen for doing this for me. She’s such a doll and with her working with Southern Living Plants, I’m going to have the finest yard around with the most lush and beautiful landscape.
I’ll be blogging the whole process so you can see it come alive. They will be back in 2 weeks for the next phase of landscaping. I can’t wait to see it all go in!
Our house in the suburbs was built beside a pond, and we owned part of it. When we had our irrigation system installed there, we put a pump in the pond and the water came from it. There was fresh/fish-fertilized water going on our lawn, no chemicals, and no increased water bill. You will LOVE your irrigation system and so will your lawn.
Rhoda, thank you so much for featuring Jordan’s house in your Friday Feature section. We both really appreciate it and appreciate YOU!!!
You are absolutely going to love having an irrigation system! Your grass and plants will love it too!
Wonderful thing to have! And just a note of advice, measure and document WHERE the lines are, and keep that info in a safe place. I promise, you think you will remember where the lines are and after everything is planted and growing and the lawn areas recover, it will all be ‘hidden’. We have hit our lines again and again, just doing normal gardening things…..planting, putting in stakes, etc. You have a great start with all of your pictures, but even measured references (like: the front water line is 3 feet off the road), that type of thing is really handy for future plantings and maintenance. Cannot wait to see the plants all in!
It will be super exciting to see your front lawn transform with some landscaping!! Can’t wait to see what you do with it! 🙂
Watching the transformation of your yard is so exciting, Rhoda! Can’t wait to see the next installment and the plants that were selected.
You will enjoy the UGI but let me suggest you buy some extra heads, the same type as we see near the street. Without a curb the first time a vehicle drives over one of the heads, and it will happen the head will be broken. Easy fix but good to have replacement heads. And set the timer to run the stations when you can observe so you will know when any heads blows or possibly gets plugged. And before they leave the project learn where the shut off is for the system. Trust me you want to know these things. And any end of season winter shut off.
You will love having a sprinkler system. It’s not perfect but it makes life so much easier.
Isn’t it wonderful when professionals take over!! It will look amazing I’m sure! Lucky lady!! Can’t wait to see the progress and finished project! ~Kathy
It’s so exciting to see all that you’re doing. I can’t wait for the landscaping!
How exciting. I am so proud that you are getting this done. Is this you last project for your perfect home?
Thank you, Jean! This is certainly the last BIG project that will be done around here. I just had the old 35 year AC/furnace replaced so I’m hoping no more big expenses will be coming up.
Oh what a thrill, this will totally make your house really seem like a home.
You will absolutely love having an irrigation system! Here in Texas we are under water restrictions and can only water twice a month on our appointed day and then only before 10am and after 6pm. If we didn’t have the irrigation system, I don’t see how we would get it done since we can set the system to run at night. I know I wouldn’t be dragging hoses around in the dark! And, as Rosie S. suggested, map out where your underground lines run. It will be helpful in the future.
Congrats! Can’t wait to see it all landscaped. Anxious to see the plants you selected.
I may be a little jealous of your landscaping! I got married last summer and just began the baby steps to a yard in my home (new to me, not to him). It’s challenging and our space isn’t easy to work with!
You are one blessed girl, Rhoda. 🙂 Your yard will be gorgeous, and all the neighbors will have to hustle to keep up!
I’m so happy for you, Rhoda! I get SO tired of dragging a sprinkler around the yard all summer long. Can’t wait to see all the landscaping in place!
Rhonda, an irrigation system is one of the best investments you can make as a home owner. You will NEVER regret having it installed. They are wonderful!
Rhoda.. I am so happy for you to have this project handled by professionals…what a load off your mind. I am so happy that all these good things are coming your way! You truly have sown good seeds and now you are reaping the blessings! I know you will appreciate the irrigation system as it is so carefree once it is installed and up and running. I’m just tickled that everything is coming together for you…
You deserve EVERY good thing that comes your way. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above. I loved your Mother’s Day pictures of your precious family. Keep them coming!
Good golly miss molly Rhoda.. wow!
Was it your lucky gardening day or what, the day that you met Carmen! I am deeply envious.. and crazy-in-love with the trench digger, what an extraordinary machine. Yes, spare heads and map the system on graft paper about which other commentators have written are a must, it will save you a lot of hassle and broken water lines.
I have just been out on my nightly slug hunt to find that it is raining.. yeah, fine soft warm rain, just what we need after a week of dry & hot weather for Chelsea Flower Show.
Thanks for the Blog.